Dry placer machine



2 Sheets--Sheet 1. T. L. WALMSLEY 8.1. H. H. WRIGHT.

[No Model.)

DRY PLACER MAGHINE.

No. 520,745. Patented May 29, 1894.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. L. WALMSLEY 8v H. H. WRIGHT. DRY PLAGBP. MACHINE.

No. 520,745. Patented May Z9, 1894.

W11' 55s.- l T0123 @M Tg4. WOS

Hx ATTORNEY vn: NnfxoNAL Ln'HoGnArmNu COMPANY.

wAaHlNGToN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. WALMSLEY AND HENRY H. WRIGHT, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

DRY PLACER MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 520,745, dated May 29, I 894.

Application filed January 3, 1894.

To a/ZZ 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS L. WALMsLEY and HENRY H. WRIGHT, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented Acertain new and useful Improvements in Dry Placer Machines; and We do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements .in means forA treating placer material for the purpose of separating the precious metals from the gangue.

The machine is specially designed for handling drymaterial, and may therefore be termed a dry placer machine or concentrator.

O ur improved mechanism consistsof the features, arrangements and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which isillustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the center of the machine, which is shown on a large scale. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the machine. Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the riftled screen and its supporting frame. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an amalgamating plate which may be employed in the shaking frame. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the hopper and frame casing carrying the blast mechanism. Fig. Sis a plan view illustrating the periphery of the grooved cam attached to the bottom of the shaker.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism in the several views, let the numeral 5 designate the stationary frame-work of the machine supported upon legs 6 and composed of the vertical sides suitably separated to receive the operating parts.

The hopper 7is made fast to an open ended box 8, to the lower extremity of which is attached the drum 9, in which is journaled the Serial No.495,561. (No model.)

shaft 10 carrying the radial arms 12 to which are made fast the auxiliary fanarms 13.

The shaft 10 is journaled in the frame-work ,of the machine, its extremities protruding sufficiently from the drum for this purpose. These protruding extremities of the shaftform trunnions upon which the entire frame-Work forming the parts 7, 8 and 9, is pivoted, this frame-Work being adjustable to regulate the inclination of the riftled screen 14 which is supported on top of the box 8 and adapted to receive the air blast from the drum 9, this Screen being located in the path of the induced air current. The box 8 is provided with the pivots 8fL which protrude through the curved slots 15 formed in the sides of the casing. One of the pivots 8a is threaded to receive a thumb nut, whereby the movable mechanism may be retained in any desired.

position of adjustment.

The screen 14 is preferably very fine, say one hundred and fifty mesh, since only the air from the blast underneath is intended to pass therethrough. It is supported upon two notched side bars 16, the body of the screen being shaped to conform to the shape of the notches in the bars, whereby the screen is rifiied or corrugated on both surfaces. The notched sideY bars are connected by transverse end pieces 17h. The under surface of the screen is also provided with depending transverse plates 14a, having their extremities made fast to the side bars 16, and their upper edges pressingv tightly against the screen, whereby air pockets are formed to catch the blast from below, which is transformed into eddies or circular currents in the pockets thus greatly facilitating the separation of the precious metals. The screen frame is hinged at its upper extremity and provided with Wires 17c forming a coarse screen above the screen 14, this coarse screen being adapted to reject the coarser portion of the gangue which is not allowed to engage the riffled screen. The lower extremity of the screen frame is provided with springs 18 which have a tendency to hold the frame down upon the box 8; this frame, however, is given a vibratory movement by the action of a cam 19 which engages a projection 17 l on the frame which is raised once for every rotation of the shaft IOO 20, which is journaled on the box S, whereby the cam is always in position to perform its function, since when the parts 7, S and 9 are adjusted, this shaft is moved accordingly. As the frame is raised bythe cam, the springs 1S force the frame suddenly downward, or cause the frame to move more quickly than it would do if acted upon by gravity alone. The upper extremities of the springs 18 are attached to the transverse bar 21 supported upon the framework of the machine. It will thus be seen thatthe cam 19 imparts an oscillating movement to the screen frame, the length of the arc of oscillation depending upon the size of the cam. This movement of the screen fiame, together with the action of the eddying air currents from the blast below, which produce a thorough disintegration of the material, effects a complete separation of the heavier portion of the precious metals which settles into the corrugations, or behind the riffies of the screen 14 and is saved thereby, while the gangue, together with the lighter and liner portion of the metals, passes downward upon an inclined table 22, supported by the spring metal straps 22C whose upper en-` tremities are attached to the inner surface of the sides of the frame-work. The upper surface of the bottom of this table is provided with riflies 23, while between these rifilcs, the table is covered with carpeting or other similar material adapted to catch the ne gold in its meshes. A shaking motion, or a movement from side to side, is imparted to this table by means of a rotating cam 24 composed of a disk having an irregular groove 24n formed on its periphery, and engaged by a projection 22a made fast to the under surface of the bottom of the table. The cam 24 is made fast toa shaft 24c suitably journaled in the frame-work. By means of the cam 24 any desired rapidity of movement may be imparted to the table that may be found necessary to cause a complete separation of the precious metals from the material, which passes to the table. The gangue escapes from the lower extremity of the table, which may be called the tail of the machine.

Any desired power may be employed for operating the machine. As shown in the drawings, this power is applied by means of a crank 25 or pulley 25 made fast to a shaft 26 journaled in one side of the machine and carrying afast gear 27 meshing with a smaller gear or pinion 28 made fast on a shaft 29 j ournaled in the frame and provided with a pulley 30 at its opposite extremity, or on the other side of the machine. This pulley 30 carries two belts 31, and 32; the one passing around a smaller pulley 33 made fast to one extremity of the shaft 10, while the other engages two pulleys 34 and 35 made fast to the shafts 20 and 24c respectively, whereby motion is imparted to the cams 19 and 24 for the purpose heretofore stated.

In case the material to be treated is damp, better results will be obtained by using the amalgamating plate 36 (see Fig. 6) instead of the rifiles and carpeting on the table 2l. This plate is provided withseveral transverse rillies 3G forming mercury or quick-silver receptacles which are designed to catch lthe coarser portion of the precious metals which come in contact with the plate. rlhis plate 3G maybe secured to the table in any suitable maniier.

The material to be treated is first placed in the hopper 7 provided with a slide valve 7 for controlling the feed to the screen 17c which separates the coarser portion of the gangue, while the rest of the material passes to the iine screen 14, where it is subjectedto the combined action of the air blast and the motion of the screen imparted by the cam 19 and the springs 1S heretofore described. The material which passes from the screen 14 is further treated on the table 22, whence the gangue impoverished of the precious metals is discharged over the tail of the machine.

Having thus described oui` invention, what we claim is- 1. In a dry placer machine, or concentrator, the combination with a suitable stationary frame, of the movable casing forming the hopper and blast chamber and adj ustably supported within the stationary casing, the fine corrugated or riffled screen hinged to the mpvable casin g at the hopper outlet and covering the mouth of the blast chamber, and suitable means for imparting to the screen, an oscillating movement, substantially as described.

2. In a dry concentrator, the combination of the stationary casing, the movable casing forming the hopper and blast chamber, the (ine riilled screen supported upon a suitable frame hinged to the movable casing in suitable proximity to the hopper discharge and covering the mouth of the blast chamber, means for imparting to the screen, an oscillating movement, and an inclined shaking table supported upon the stationary framework and located below the screen, the bottom of said table being provided with riffles, and having carpeting or similar material between tlie riffles, substantially as described.

3. In a dry placer machine, the combination of the stationary framework, the movable casing forming the hopper and blast chamber, suitable air forcing mechanism located within said chamber, the fine corrugated screen having its frame hinged to the movable casing, said screen being located above the mouth of the blast and provided with depending transverse plates forming air pockets beneath the screen, means for imparting to the screen, an oscillating movement, and an inclined,carpeted table provided with riftles, said table being inovably supported in the framework, and means for imparting to the table, a transverse shaking movement, substantially as described.

4. In a dry placer machine, the combination with the stationary frame-work, the movable truiinioned casing mounted in the frame, and

carrying the hopper and blast mechanism, said casing being further provided with projections engaging curved slots formed in the casing,\one of the projections being provided with a tightening nut, whereby the casing may be adjusted, the hinged frame carrying the fine screen and having depending ltransverse riftles forming air pockets underneath, the screen being locatedabove the mouth of the blast chamber, means connected with the movable casing for imparting an oscillating movement to the screen, springs engaging the frame of the screen and normally pressing the same down upon the movable casing, and a coarse screen attached to the frame of the fine screen and supported above the latter, substantially as described.

5. In a dry placer machine, the combination with a suitable stationary frame, of the casing adjustably supported within the frame, and comprising the hopper and blast chamber, and a ne screen covering the mouth of the blast chamber and located at the hopper outlet, substantially as described.

6. In a dry placer machine, the combination with a stationary frame, of a casing adjustably supported within the frame and com prising the hopper and blast chamber, affine screen having underneath air pockets, said screen being attached to a suitable frame hinged at one extremity, and supported in the path of the blast, and means connected with the opposite extremity for imparting an oscillating movement, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the stationary frame, of the casing adj ustably supported in said frame and comprising a blast chamber, a ne screen attached to the casing and covering the mouth of the blast chamber, and 4o means for feeding the material to said screen, substantially as described.

. 1n testimony whereof We affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS L. WALMS'LEY. HENRY H. WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, CHAs. E. DAWSON. 

